Tomaidh Peigi Thòmais

Thomas Angus “Tommy Peggy” MacDonald was born in Breton Cove, Victoria County, to Angus N. MacDonald and Margaret “Peggy” MacDonald. His ancestors came from Harris. When he was just seven years old, his father passed away, and he became known by his mother’s name, Tommy “Peggy”.

As a boy, he attended French River Presbyterian Church, later becoming a member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Indian Brook, where he served as a precentor.

On August 26, 1942, Tommy married Sarah Margaret “Peggy” Matheson of Indian Brook. A fisherman by trade, he also worked as a farmer and carpenter, while Peggy took on housework and occasional teaching. They had three children: Archie, Brian, and Buddy, the latter becoming a well-known singer in Cape Breton.

A respected Gaelic singer and tradition bearer, Tommy was a member of The North Shore Gaelic Singers. His contributions to Gaelic song were widely recognized, and throughout the 1950s and 60s, he was recorded by various folklorists, including Ralph Rinzler, who in 1965 brought Tommy Peggy and The North Shore Gaelic Singers to the Newport Folk Festival. At this now-famous event, these towering Gaelic singers shared the stage with icons of the 1960s folk music revival, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Donovan.